Ohio Sports Columnist Hal Lebovitz Dies at 89

Posted Tuesday, October 18, 2005 12:00 am

By: E&P Staff

Longtime sports journalist Hal Lebovitz died Tuesday of cancer at the age of 89.

The Baseball Hall of Fame member was a sports columnist for The News-Herald of Willoughby, Ohio, and The Morning Journal of Lorain, Ohio, since 1984.

Lebovitz began his journalism career in 1938 at the Cleveland News, where he worked until it went out of business in 1960. While at the News, Lebovitz served as the Cleveland Indians' beat writer for several years. He moved to The Plain Dealer of Cleveland right after the News folded, and served as sports editor from 1964 to 1984.

""Hal was a legend,"" said Steve Roszczyk, publisher of The News-Herald.

In his final column two weeks ago, Lebovitz praised the standing ovation Cleveland fans gave the Indians after the team faltered in the final week of the season and missed the playoffs.

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Ohio Sports Columnist Hal Lebovitz Dies at 89

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